Apple Marketing SVP comments on iPhone 5 scratches and chips: ‘That is normal’ for aluminum products

We just received (and verified headers of) an email exchange from a 9to5Mac reader to Senior Vice President of Marketing Phil Schiller, where the Apple executive gave his take on the small amount of scratches and chips that black iPhone 5 users have experienced. Our reader noted his black iPhone 5 saw some “scuffs, scratches and marks” around the band, and he wondered if Apple had any plans to fix or address the issue. Schiller responded:

Any aluminum product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver color. That is normal.

As found in some durability tests, the black iPhone 5’s back tends to scratch much easier than its glass-backed iPhone 4/4S predecessors. However, the aluminum back obviously stands up to drops much better than glass. When given the option, I would probably take the scratches.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OSFKVq36Hgc]

We can also confirm Schiller is up and answering customer emails at 6:13 a.m. PST.

iPhone 5 case makers rejoice! (Thanks, Alex!)

Update: We’ve posted an extremely informative video on Apple’s anodizing process below:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3ZhVOy-ytJY]